53 There's No Rest For The Wicked
"[Katon: Surtr]"
According to the Norse myth, Surtr was a flame giant who guarded the Muspelheim with his flaming sword. He was featured in both of the world's creation and destruction, as the one who will fight with Freyr, one of the Gods in Norse mythology.
And Chouji improved his old technique, from a mere rock golem, into one that inspired from mythology from his old world. As his prowess went up, he believed that he will have the prowess that would be able to contend with God, hence he named it Surtr. He hated the fact that his fate laid in another's hand, so he wants to become stronger to be able to decide his own fate and destiny.
As the giant flaming figure moves, trails of flames were left by it. Its sword shone with a burning light and emitted heat that was able to melt iron upon touch.
"HELP! NOO!"
"MO-MONSTER!"
"SPARE ME!"
Scream of agony was clearly heard on the scorching desert, the trail of burning sand and a portion of glass sands could be seen on the desert's sandy surface. The bounty hunters were terrified, not even once in their years of experience in this field they met with this kind of monster. Time passed, and by the time Chouji was done with his 'victim', not even ashes were left in his wake.
"As expected, there's still so much room for improvement..." Chouji took a map from his pouch and checked his location. "A bit more and I'll reach the place, Yosh!"
---
-Shikamaru POV-
It's been four days since I reported my finding back to Konoha, which they replied that I need to standby and watch the target while waiting for the reinforcement to arrive. Today, the reinforcement should arrive at noon. But, here's the catch, a new mission was issued to me.
Not as a Konoha's chunin, but as a part of Konoha's ANBU. And yes, the reinforcement should be an ANBU squad with Hyuga Ko as the leader. To be honest, I felt quite uncomfortable wearing a mask all day and acted so secretive every time, but duty was a duty.
When did I become an ANBU?
It's not long after the Chunin exam, I was summoned by the third Hokage then he asked me to be a part of ANBU. He listed the benefit and the responsibilities that I need to bear, how should I say it...
It's a drag...
But, then I remembered him, Chouji. And then that bushy brows, Lee. They're monsters shaped by hard work and the right environment. Maybe ANBU was the right environment for me, so I decided to accept it. And just like that, I trained and learned under the ANBU program about everything that needs to be known as an ANBU.
Really, there's no rest for the wicked...
By the way, because I just started, I still haven't got a moniker name yet. This honestly made me felt glad, they just sound so... childish. Instead, I was called "Unit 305", sounds less childish and cooler for me.
*Caw* *Caw* *Caw*
Several hours later, five peoples congregate not far from where I was and whistled in a certain tone. Which is supposed to be a signal for me to approach them and reporting any information that I have regarding the current mission.
So I just did that, I flickered beside them with my ANBU attire on and did a salutation. "Captain!"
"At ease!" The captain commanded, I then proceeded to report all of my findings, which honestly quite a lot. From the target's number of personnel, their base's infrastructure, the children inside, the weird armored soldier, even the knight-like man that attacked Naruto that I suspected to be a member of the target's group.
From the captain's disposition when I told him about the children inside, his disposition fluctuates and he emitted a bit of killing intent, from that alone I dare to conclude that this mission... would be a bloody one.
*Sigh*
What a drag...
Not that I repulsed by it as I knew the target's immoral act, but, it's just... troublesome.
The captain of this squad was a sensor, including him, there were four sensors in this squad. As soon as the captain briefed the plan, we all moved.
The sensors split to guard the four cardinal directions with the captain guarding the direction of the main entrance of the giant mechanical structure. I along with another ANBU -codename Weasel- sneaked inside the structure, with me mainly as the guide and Weasel the "main lead" of this operation.
As we proceed inside, Weasel-san briefed me on a few "technical things".
Our main objective was the one called Haido, the leader, to extract any information from him. And with saving the children as our side objective. We're allowed to eliminate any obstacles, that to said, to kill the others beside him.
From this minimal information, I was able to deduct that this 'Weasel' was either a Yamanaka or a part of the "torture and interrogation force", or perhaps... both? or maybe not.
Anyway, slowly we sneaked inside the mechanical structure while avoiding most of the patrolling guard. By the time we reached the main hall through the ventilation, almost half an hour already passed. In there, we saw our target -Haido- seated on a throne while reading a book. His chubby cheek leaned on his right hand, while his left hand holding a book in a relaxed manner.
Weasel-san sneaked around while silently getting close to the target's location, he took out his tanto and swung his hand to kill Haido swiftly from his side. Suddenly, a blurry figure descended from above and attacked him.
Fortunately, Weasel-san was able to retract his hand and defended himself from the attack. I still watched from the ventilation, both for securing our way out in case of unexpected things happen and to keep an eye for any reinforcement from outside.
"Kyahaha, you mongrels. How dare you attack Haido-sama!" A figure of a white-skinned woman with long blonde hair and reddish-colored eyes appeared standing beside the throne. The woman wore a turquoise knight's uniform with a spike jutting out the top of each shoulder guard, coupled with her pale skin, it weirdly accentuated her red eyes, made it appear more charming.
*Pa!*
Haido closed the book in his hand and slowly lifted his head to gaze at his assailant.
"Hm, that outfit and that manner... I suppose you're a shinobi, aren't you?" Haido's eyes stared at Weasel-san's figure, then suddenly, his eyes darted in my direction.
Could it be...?!
"You can come out now, I know you're there."
---
-Third POV-
"You can come out now, I know you're there." Haido calmly turned his head to the direction where Shikamaru was hiding, a small smile creeped out on his face.
"Not coming out?" Time passed, but still, Haido patiently gazed at the place where Shikamaru was. "Well then, suit yourself."
Haido shook his head and he opened his book once more and immersed himself in the book, it was as if everything happened was not a threat at all to him.
Meanwhile, the ANBU -Weasel- was silently having blows exchanges with the woman in the knight's armor.
*Clang!*
The sound of steel clashed resounded as Ninja tanto and a knight long sword hit each other. Feeling a bit frustrated with the stalemate, the woman knight's attacks were getting wilder and wilder than before.
"Kamira, end it now. I want to concentrate on my reading..."
"As you wish, Haido-sama!" The woman, Kamira, kicked her opponent as her weapon parried his attack. Her attack was dodged, but instead of retreating, Kamira turned into a blur and launched another kick which was again dodged by her opponent.
A few more flurries of attacks were launched by her, only to be dodged by a hairbreadth.
"Look into my eyes!" getting frustrated, Kamira suddenly shouted as she blocked an attack from Weasel. She transformed herself into a human-bat hybrid form with a feral appearance. Her opponent, the Weasel suddenly became sluggish and slashed at an empty space in front of him.
"Kyahaha, with my illusion power, you will die here! Watch me Haido-sama!"
*Bang!*
Just before Kamira attacked her opponent, a hybrid human-wolf person blasted the door of the room open. She walked inside the room with her hand hung on the air choking Shikamaru. The wolf-like woman then bowed her head in a humble manner in front of Haido without releasing her grip on Shikamaru. "I found a sneaking rat, Haido-sama."
"Good job, Fugai..." With a slight smile on his face, Haido nodded and smirked at the miserable figures of Shikamaru and Weasel-san. "...Now, finish them."
---
At the same time, outside of the mechanical structure. Four figures could be seen standing guard with their utmost focus. They wore the standard Konoha ANBU uniform with a tanto on their back.
"Captain, it's been quite a long time passed. Are you sure that they're okay? You know that one is just a Chunin and the other is a newcomer. Won't they meet with a mishap?" One of the ANBU with an ape-like face mask asked as he looked a bit restless.
The captain shook his head, he signaled the person to calm himself and back to his assigned position. The ANBU captain gazed at the giant mechanical structure before him and sighed.
'If they're an ordinary chunin and recruit then indeed I'll be worried dispatching just the two of them alone, but...' The ANBU captain remembered the fifth Hokage instructions and chuckled in a mocking manner.
'...One is a freak of nature and bordering insane, while the other is a genius recommended by the Third himself. Besides...' The ANBU captain shuddered for some reason when he recalled things about something.
'May God give mercy to you... Because I'm sure that those two won't give you any.'
---
"...Now, Finish them."
"As you wish, Haido-sama!" Fugai, The wolf-like woman grinned as she tightened her grip with one hand, and pierced Shikamaru's chest with another one of her hands.
*Splurt*
"Yes, Haido-sama!" Kamira swung her sword vertically and beheaded her opponent swiftly. She showed a sadistic smile on her face as she saw a head rolled down on the floor.
*Clatter*
Both Fugai and Kamira turned their head to where Haido was seated, "They're already ta-"
As they wanted to report their task, their word was cut. On one side, Fugai had her eyes bulged in disbelief as her "prey" suddenly turned into a dark shadowy figure and suddenly some shadowy blade stabbed her in the exact same place she stabbed him before.
"Boo!" Shikamaru came out of his hiding from the shadow and the figure caught by Fugai turned into a shadowy figure that stabbed Fugai.
On the other side, the ANBU's -Weasel- figure turned into smokes.
*Crack*
Kamira's neck was producing a loud cracking sound as it was twisted in a weird angle by the smoky figure. Meanwhile, the head that rolled on the ground was also turned into smoke and as the smoke changed back into a human shape, the figure of an ANBU wearing a weasel mask could clearly be seen. "Ah~ Music in my ears~"
Both the weasel and Shikamaru were stood beside their opponent unscratched.
"Weasel-san, your plan is really troublesome. Why are we have to pretend to lose before we strike back?" Shikamaru who wore a blank mask on his face hunched his back as he sighed lazily. "It's a drag..."
Hearing Shikamaru's answer, Weasel chuckled and answered with a coy tone. "He~ Isn't it fine? Can't you feel the joy when their hope turned into despair? 305, it's fine to have fun sometimes~"
*Pa!*
In the middle of the room, Haido's eyes bulged in disbelief. His book fell as his grip loosened.
Gritting her teeth, Fugai transformed her form to that of a wolf-like monster, which resembles that of a werewolf. In her frustration and desperation, she let out a loud howl. The wound on her chest stopped bleeding and as the result of her howl, the glasses in the room were shattered.
"RAWR!"
"Shut up!" Weasel immediately flickered behind Fugai, he swung his tanto downward and it pierced Fugai's skull all the way from top to bottom. "Your voice is too d*mn loud."
Weasel grinned behind his mask as he walked slowly toward Haido. "Bind him please, 305."
Shikamaru made a ram seal then Haido's shadow suddenly flickered and rose before it constricted him and bound him in place. "Hurry up then, Weasel-san."
"Well well~ Let's get to work, shall we? Ha~I~do~sa~ma~?" Weasel's face was covered with a mask, even then, Haido was sure that he saw a smirk that shouldn't belong to a human.
